Hello all, dont know how regular this is going to be but felt like there is a few things i want to say that twitter just doesnt have the space for. First of all thanks to everyone there, actually made competing fun, not like sitting an exam. A special thanks also to colin and steve for getting gwilm and john over for the event, was really pleased to be able to meet some awesome baristas who i would never have got the chance to say hello to otherwise, nevermind having them make me a coffee!! the whole event was cofee geek heaven for us especially getting to see the uber boiler in action and the chance to taste some really great coffees!!

I really genuinely hope it can become an all ireland event permanently in the future, the atmosphere and genuine love of coffee over the whole three days was a great experience, something i dont think can be replicated for a heat in NI.

I’d also like to take this opportunity to thank John Elliot, our owner for the time and backing given to us in the preparation for the event, and to Russell Bailie and David Wilson from Bailies coffee who have been with us every step of the way, helping and tweaking our performances and coffees

From a competitor point of you, for all three of us the organisation behind the scenes was brilliant and our minders downstairs really helped settle us down before our performances, also the judges were very good at making us feel at ease, I know they cant react to much while we perform but a smile back means alot when our up there, and making the effort to talk to us over the three days was brilliant. Also giving there time to give us feedback afterwards was great and much appreciated.

on the subject of judges, I have 2 minor gripes, which in no way have taken away from my experience.

1. should a judge really deem a tray too big? I understand that maybe that shows poor preparation, but operating on a budget, the money was spent where we felt best, like the beans and devoting practice time away from our shops. In my opinon its a little inconsequential but maybe im just still a bit sore!!

2. After a performance, when the tech guys come to clean down the machine, should a judge or similar check the workstation before handing it over to the competitor? I had hairs in my portafiler, which i should have noticed in my prep time I admit, and i dont know if they came from me or not but it got me thinking that that might happen to someone else at some stage.

Please please dont think i am in anyway unhappy with the judging or any other aspect of the whole event, I loved it and will compete again next year without a doubt, providing I get through the internal qualifiers.

so thats the end of my first blog ever, if you think I am out of line or talking utter nonsense please tell me, any criticsm i get will only make me better.

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